Morgan Stanley Intern Insights: From Fashion to Fitness

The wave of Generation Z has swept into corporate America, making noticeable impressions even in the halls of prominent financial institutions like Wall Street. Morgan Stanley took a deep dive into the preferences of its 2025 cohort of North American summer interns, comprising more than 500 individuals.

These young professionals shared opinions on their favored brands across several categories, giving us insight into modern trends and rare perspectives from the intern workforce at a leading bank. The survey highlights a few evolutionary shifts: new brands like sports shoe brand Hoka and fashion label Aritzia are gaining popularity.

The distancing from classic luxury brands and prominent logos is another trend, as nearly 40% of respondents reported no loyalties to specific handbag brands. The traditional Stanley tumbler has lost its prime spot in popularity.

Streaming Preferences

Spotify emerged as the preferred music streaming service, with 69% of interns holding subscriptions. This led significantly over other choices like Apple Music at 23%, and YouTube at 17%. For video content, Netflix is the leading platform, albeit closely followed by YouTube, and TikTok not too far behind.

Sneaker Choices

Nike holds the top spot for athletic shoe brands, securing the choice of 36% of interns. Adidas was next at 11%, and Hoka followed at 10%. Despite Nike’s dominance, its influence has lessened from previous years when it claimed 58% loyalty.

Fashion Retail Favorites

Zara, standing at 24%, leads in apparel preferences, with Lululemon and Aritzia following at 22% and 19% respectively. Although losses in preference share were noted for Zara and Lululemon, other brands like Arc'teryx and Ralph Lauren saw an upturn in their favorability.

Handbag Loyalties

There is a 38% segment of female-identifying interns showing no commitment to any handbag brands, but Longchamp and Coach are notable at 13% and 15%. The intern's affinity for affordable over luxury options seems to be a growing sentiment.

Favorite Hydration Bottles

Owala's rise as the top preferred water bottle is evident, chosen by 62% of interns. The brand surpasses the popularity of traditional choices like Hydroflask and Yeti, indicating shifting preferences.

Exercise Preferences

For workouts, half of those surveyed opt for indoor gym routines, with 27% enjoying outdoor exercises and 15% selecting group fitness. It reflects a trend in enhancing corporate amenities with comprehensive wellness facilities, as seen with JPMorgan's state-of-the-art fitness center.

Automobile Aspirations

Mercedes appeals most to these interns at 21%, although Tesla's charm has waned, dropping from 30% in past years to just 5% currently. This aligns with broader sentiment shifts regarding Tesla, reflecting in its financial performance and market perceptions.

Digital Wallets in Use

Apple Pay dominates as the most used digital wallet among interns, utilized by 82% weekly. Venmo and PayPal follow, indicating Apple Pay's significant hold in facilitating daily transactions.